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Eye exam: Is a laser retina scan worthwhile?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eye-exam/AN01663
- With Mayo Clinic emeritus ophthalmologist
Dennis Robertson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Dennis Robertson, M.D.
Dennis Robertson, M.D.
Dennis M. Robertson was born in South St. Paul, Minn., and grew up in a musical family on the Mississippi River. He completed his undergraduate and graduate training at the University of Minnesota, where he received a B.A., B.S. and M.D.
Following an internship at San Bernardino County Hospital in California, he worked for two years on Indian reservations under the umbrella of the United States Public Health Service. He later completed a residency in ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic and pursued postgraduate fellowship training in vitreoretinal disorders at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. He returned to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., in 1967.
His studies included a sabbatical during 1987 and 1988 at Moorfields and St. Bartholomew’s hospitals in London. His scientific interests have been chiefly in disorders of the retina and vitreous and ocular oncology. In 1999, he became the recipient of the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Professorship.
He retired from full time clinical practice in July 2004. In August 2005, he returned to work part-time at the Mayo Clinic until retiring again in December 2007.
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Question
Eye exam: Is a laser retina scan worthwhile?
Is a laser retina scan necessary? My optometrist offers the test, but I'm not sure if I need it.
Answer
from Dennis Robertson, M.D.
For most people, a laser retina scan isn't necessary.
During a traditional eye exam, an eye doctor dilates your eyes with special eyedrops and then checks your retinas for abnormalities using an ophthalmoscope — a lighted magnifying instrument. During a laser retina scan, such as Optomap, your eyes may or may not be dilated. A laser scans your eyes and then produces digital images of your retinas. Your eye doctor can use the images to check for abnormalities. The images can be saved in your medical record and used to compare the condition of your retinas from year to year.
Some research suggests that laser retina scans can help eye doctors diagnose problems in the retinas. Still, laser retina scans have limitations. For example, although a laser retina scan captures a wide angle view of the retinas, the test might not detect problems on the outside edges of the retinas.
If you choose to have a laser retina scan, make it a complement to — not a substitute for — a traditional eye exam. This is especially important if you're at high risk of retinal conditions. You might also consider what the procedure costs and whether it's covered by your medial insurance.
- Khandhadia S. Use of optomap for retinal screening within an eye casualty setting. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2009;93:52.
- Mackenzie PJ, et al. Sensitivity and specificity of the Optos Optomap for detecting peripheral retinal lesions. Retina. 2007;27:1119.
- Cheng SCK, et al. Use of the Optomap with lid retraction and its sensitivity and specificity. Clinical and Experimental Optometry. 2008;91:373.
- Comprehensive adult medical eye evaluation. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=25644. Accessed June 24, 2011.
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